Motor-vehicle.



PATENTBD DEC. 22, 190s.

H. FORD.

4 MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLIUATION FILED 513.24, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

WITNESS/2s.

INVENTOR.

./ttorneys.

mr. Nonms PErERs co, mom-Limo.. w/sHmcTom c4 w w M No. 747,909. y

' UNITED ISTATES Patented December 22, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY FORD, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent Nol 747,909, dated December22, 1903.

, Applicatin filed February 24, 1903. Serial No. 144,577. (No model.) l

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY FORD, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMotor-Vehicles,of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein tothe accompanying draw- This invention relates tocertain new and useful improvements in motor-vehicles and in therunning-gear therefor, and has for its object .to make a iiexiblerunning-gear in a simple, cheap, and efficient manner, which willaccommodate itself to the inequalities of the road.

shown in the accompanying drawings, I have shown it as applied tothenrear axle of a motor-vehicle, in which A is the frame; B, the rearaxle; C, the drive-wheels; D,the motor; D', the motor-shaft; E, theily-wheel; F, the clutch,and Gthe intermediate drive orpowertransmitting sh aft connecting the motor-shaft with the 'rear axlethrough the medium of bevel-gears H I, mounted on said shaft and rearaxle, respectively.

J is a casing provided with an enlargement 5J', inclosing thedrive-gears, and with lateral extensions J2, inclosing the rear axle,and a forwardly-extending reach portion L, preferably formed integraltherewith,provided with a circular enlargement L at its forward end,

said reach portion being preferably made hollow to inclose thepower-transmitti ng shaft coextensive therewith.

K represents springs interposed between the frame and casing.

M is a transverse frame member located at the point of connection of thereach with the frame and provided with a circular enlargement or socketM', preferably made in halves, as shown, and adapted to receive thecircular for the drive mechanism, which may be provided with suitablebearings. Y

O represents diagonal brace-rods connecting the forward end of the reachwith the outer ends of the lateral extensions. These rods may beomitted, if desired, or formed integral with the casing.

While I have shown but one way of carrying out my invention, I wish itunderstood that I am aware that my invention may be carried out invarious ways, all of which I deem within the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is A l. In amotor-vehicle running gear, the combination with the frame and motorthereon, of a rear axle having a casing formed with a rigid 'reachportion extending forwardly 'to a point of connection with the frame'andforminga universal connection therewith anda power-transmitting shaftcoincidently connected at said point bya universal joint with the motor-shaft and extending rearwardly therefrom to the rear axle in bearingssupported by said casing. y y

2. In a motor-vehicle running-gear, the combination with thespring-supported frame and motor thereon, of a rear axle having aninclosing casing formed with a rigid reach portion extending forwardlyto a point of connection with the frame in the longitudinal-centerthereof and forming a universal connection therewith and apower-transmitting shaft coincidently connected at said point by auniversal joint with the motor-shaft and extending rearwardly therefromtothe rear axle in bearings supported by the reach portion of saidcasing.

3. In a motor-vehicle running-gear, the

combination withthe spring-supported frame and motor thereon, of a rearaxle having an inclosing casing formed with a rigid reach portionextending forwardly in the longitudinal center of the frame to a pointof connection therewith formed with a universal connection and apower-transmitting shaft coincidently connected at said point by auniversal joint with the motorshaft, said shaft inclosed within saidreach portion of said casing and revolving in bearings therein.

Il. In a motor-vehicle running-gear, the combination with thespring-supported frame and motor thereon, of a rear axle having aninclosing casing formed with a rigid reach portion extending forwardlyto a point of connection with the frame and forming a universalconnection therewith, and a power-trans mitting shaft inclosed withinsaid reach portion and supported in bearings therein,saidpowertransmitting shaft connected with the motorshaft by a universaljoint coincident with the universal connection of the reach portion withthe frame.

5. In a motorvehicle running-gear, the combination with the frame andmotor supported thereon of a rear axle having a casing provided with ahollow reach portion extending forwardly to a point of connection withthe frame, and a power-transmitting shaft, inclosed within and revolvingin bearings in said reach portion, said reach portion andpower-transmitting shaft having coincident points of connection, onewith the frame by a ball-and-socket connection and the other with themotor-shaft by a universal-joint connection.

6. Ina motorvehicle,the combination with the frame the motor thereon anda powertransmitting shaft connecting the rear axle with the shaft of themotor longitudinally of the frame, of the rear axle having a casingformed with a forwardly-extending hollow reach portion in which thepower-transmitting shaft revolves, said reach portion andpower-transmitting shaft having coincident universal connections onewith the frame and the other with the motor-shaft.

7. In a motor-vehicle running -gear, the combination withthe'vehicle-frame, the motor thereon,and an intermediate drive-shaftconnection between the motor and rear axle, of a rear-axle casingintegrally formed with a rigid hollow reach portion extending forwardlyin the center of the frame and forming a casingin which the intermediatedriveshaft is journaled in suitable bearings, said reach portion havingits forward end connected to the frame to form a direct and positivedraft connection independently of the motor, by a ball-and-socketconnection the socket member of which is rigidly connected to the frameat a point between the rear axle and motor.

S. In a motor-vehicle running-gear, the combination with thevehicle-frame, the motor thereon, and an intermediate drive-shaftconnection between the motor and rear axle,

of a rear-axle casing integrally formed with a rigid hollow reachportion extending forwardly in the center of the frame and forming acasing in which the drive-shaft is journaled in suitable bearings, saidreach portion at its forward end terminating in ahollow ball memberwithin which the connection is made between the drive-shaft and thepower-transmitting shaft and a socket member rigidly connected to theframe independently of the motor and forming with the ball member apositive and direct draft connection with the frame.

9. In a motor-vehiclerunning-gear, the combination with the frame,of amotor thereon having a drive-shaft arranged logitudinally of the frame,a driven shaft from which motion is transmitted to the rear axle, and acasing having a reach portion in line with and inclosing the drivenshaft and provided with bearings therefor and with lateral extensions atthe rear end of said reach portion inclosing the rear axle and providedwith bearings therefor, the reach portion of said casing provided with aball-and-socket connection with the frame at its forward end and auniversal-joint connection between said drive and driven shafts withinthe balland-socket connection and coincident therewith.

10. In a motor-vehicle running-gear, the combination with the frame themotor and rear axle, of a casing inclosing the rear axle and having areach portion extending to a point of connection with the frame and apower-transmitting shaft coextensive with said reach portion andrevolving in bearings within the same, said shaft having a universalconnection with the motor-shaft.

11. In a motor-vehicle running-gear, the

combination with the frame and rear axle, of a casing inclosing the rearaxle and having a reach portion extending to the point of connectionwith the frame forming a universal connection therewith, the motorsupported upon the frame forward of said connection and having a shaftextending lengthwise of the frame to said point of connection and apower-transmittingshaft extending from said connection to the rear axlethe connection between the two shafts being formed by a universal joint.

12. In a motor-vehicle running-gear, the combination with the frame, themotor and axle, of a reach portion extending from the axle to a point ofconnection with the frame and having a universal connection therewithand driving mechanism having a universal connection with the motor at apoint coincident with that of the frame and reach.

13. In a motor-vehicle running-gear, the combination with the frame, themotor and axle, of a tubular reach portion extending from the axle to apoint of connection with the frame, formed by a ball-and-socket joint, adriven shaft within said reach portion coextensive therewith and havinga universal con- IOO IIO

nection with the motor-shaft'within the balland-socket joint andcoincident therewith.

14. In a motor-vehicle, the combination with the frame, the motorthereon and axle, of a casing having a hollow reach portion connected tothe frame by a ball-and-socket joint at a point between the motor andaxle andy which forms the sole strut and draft connection between theframe and axle.

15. In a motor-vehicle, the combination with the frame, the motor andaxle,of a casing havinga reach portion connected to the frame by aball-and-socket connection', the socket member of whichvis rigidlyconnected to the frame at a point between the motor and axle andwhichreach portion forms-the direct and positive draft connectionbetween the frame and axle.

16. In a motor-vehicle, the combination with the frame the`motor,drive-shaft and rear axle, of a casing having a hollow reach portionforming a housing for the drive-shaft and so arranged that it forms thesole distance-bar between a motor rigidly supported by the frame and therear axle, the connection between the frame and reach being formed by auniversal joint ata point between the axle and motor.V Y

17. In a motor-Vehicle running-gear, the

combination with the frame the motor thereon and an intermediate driveconnection i between the motor-shaft and the rear axle through whichmotion is transmitted to the rear axle, of a casing inclosing said rearaxle and integrally formed with a hollow reach portion extendingcentrally forward to a fixed point of connection with the frameintermediate between the axle and motor and inclosing said intermediatedrive connection said point of connection formed by a ball-andsocketjoint, the socket portion of which is rigidly secured to the frame andforms a bearing for the motor-shaft. y

18. A gear-casing for the actuating mechan ism of motor-vehiclescomprisingacasing having a reach portion forming the d-irect and onlypositive draft connection between the rear axle and frame and anintervening universal connection, the connection between the frame andreach being formed by a balland-socket joint one member of which isrigidly secured to the frame.

In testimony whereof I ax my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

HENRY FORD.

Witnesses:

OTTO F. BARTHEL, LEWIS E. FLANDERS.

